Process for the electrolysis of alkali chlorides



Dec. 15 1925. 1,565,943

H. KLOPSTO'CK PROCESS FOR THE ELECTROLYSIS 0F ALKALI CHLORIDES F'iledMay 25, 1925 Patented Dec. 15, 1925i.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Hammer: x'Lors'rocx, or AUSSIG, CZECHOSLOVAKIA.

PROCESS FOR THE ELECTIKSLYSIS F ALKALI CHLOBIDES.

Application filed May 25, 1925; Serial No. 32,778.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hammer: Kmrs'roox,

a citizen of the Republic of Czechoslovakia,

residing at [Ohnsorgstrasse' '17, Aussig, in the Repubhc ofCzechoslovakia, have invented certain new and-useful Improvements 1nProcesses for the Electrolysis of Alkah Chlorides (for which I havefiled a patent application in Germany on 21st May, 1924),

I of which the-followin 1s aspecification.

, It is well known t at, if the electrolysis 1 of alkali chlorides bythe so-called qulcksilver process is to be'carried out in a favourablemanner, one of the chief conditions to be observed is that thesurface'of the quicka silver be kept right. I

Nevertheless, in this process, when the quicksilver in the amalgamdecomposition cell is returned into the amal am-formation 5 cell bymeans of mechanical evices, such as bucket-wheels, pumps or the like, atroublesome friableness of the --quicks1lver often occurs, which ispresumably due to oxidation of the residue of alkali metal in it.

u It has now been found that this drawback,

which occurs to aparticularly ieat extent in the electrolysis ofpotassium c oride, can be obviated in a simple-manner by effecting thetransference of the quicksilver from the amalgam decomposition cell tothe email-- gamormation cell in the presence of a suit.- ableair-excluding medium, for example liquids such as water, diluted alkalilyes or alkali chloride solutions. Or, similarly successful result maybe obtained byeffecting ,the transference of the quicksilver in thepresence of an inert gaseous atmosphere,-for example, in the resence ofhydrogen or nitrogen. It is a vantageous in many cases 40 to efiect thetransference ofthe quicksilver under er-combined gas and li uid seal;

.. In this manner the undesira le friableness of the quicksilver may beavoided not only in the electrolysis of sodium chloride but also in theelectrolysis of potassium chloride.

Any suitable apparatus forcarryin out the process may be emlplloyedg Avpre erred form of apparatus is ustrated by way of 0 example, in theaccompan drawing.

grammatically a sectional elevation through the apparatus, 1 is acontainer from which i In' the drawing, -whic lustrates diathe liquidmetal has to be continually lifted into a higher container 2. 'The layerof liquid metalis indicated by'3 and the layer of protecting liquidabove it by 4 A baflie 5 is provided for preventing the protecting'liquid from taking part in the circulation.

movementdue to the action of worm, cannot be driven through the coveringliquid.

The invention is not limited to the apparatus illustrated as, obviously,any ot er suitable means for transferring the quicksilver from the "onecell to the other in the presence of an air-excluding medium might beemployed.

I claim.

1. In processes for the electrolysis of alkali chlorides by theso-called quicksilver process involving a transfer of the quicksilverfrom the amalgam decomposition cell to the amalgam-formation cell by afluid propelling device, the step which consists in. protecting thequicksilver throughout its transfer by means of an air-excludin fluid.

2. In processes for the e ectrolysis of alkali chlorides by theso-called quicksilver process involving a transfer of the quicksilverfrom the amalgam decomposition cell to the amal gain-formation cell by afluid propelling de vice, the step which consists in protecting thequicksilver throughout its transfer by means of an air-excluding li uid.A

3. In processes for t e electrolysis of alkali chlorides by theso-called quicksilver process.-

involving a transfer of the quicksilver from the amalgam decompositioncell to-the amalg am-formation cell by a fluid propelling device, thestep which' consists in protecting the. quicksilver throughout itstransfer by means of water.

4.111 processes for the electrol sis of alkali I chlorides by theso-called quicksilver process involving a transfer =of, the quicksilverfrom the amalgam decomposition cell to the amalgam-formation cell by afluid propelling device, the step which consists in protecting thequicksilver throughout its transfer by means of a liquidnncl an inertgas.

5. In processes for the electrolysis of alkali chlorides by theso-called quicksilver process involving a trunsfer of the quicksilverfrom the amalgam decomposltion cell to the amalgam-forl nation cell by afluid propelling device, the step which consists in protecting thequicksilver throughout its transfer in: means of water and ln' ll'ogen.

Du. HEIXRICH'KLOPST()K.

